Housing & Development · New York, NY
On Oct. 22, the New York City Council passed a scaled-back Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) by a vote of 38-9, resurrecting legislation previously vetoed by former Mayor Eric Adams. Sponsored by Brooklyn Council Member Sandy Nurse, the bill gives qualified nonprofits a first opportunity to purchase certain distressed or affordable apartment buildings when owners decide to sell, though its scope was narrowed from roughly 10,000 to about 2,100 buildings. The measure now heads to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has pledged to sign it; it takes effect one year after becoming law.
Crime · New York, NY
On Oct. 20, Homeland Security Investigations New York and multiple federal, state, and local agencies executed court-authorized raids at Social Adult Day Care centers in Flushing, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Gov. Hochul said the months-long investigation targeted more than 100 SADC providers suspected of fraud or illegal activity in New York's Medicaid program. At least one center in Flushing was closed to visitors during the operation. Agencies involved include the Department of Health, the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, Attorney General Letitia James's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the FBI, and the U.S. HHS Office of the Inspector General.
Crime · New York, NY
A jury is deliberating the case of Halima Salman, a U.S. citizen born in Brooklyn, who faces charges for allegedly undergoing weapons training with the Islamic State group. Defense attorneys argue that Salman was tricked into traveling to Syria by her father at age 17 and coerced into marriage before being detained in 2019. Prosecutors contend that Salman willingly pledged loyalty to the terror organization and participated in military training after turning 18. The trial concluded with closing arguments on Thursday, as jurors began their deliberations.
Local Politics · New York, NY
Intro. 518, submitted by Councilmember Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria) in February, would require operators of delivery warehouses and facilities to obtain city permits and establish safety, training, and employment requirements for last-mile delivery workers. The bill is backed by the Teamsters Union, other labor organizations, and 33 City Council members including several Queens representatives. Opponents include Amazon, FedEx, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Long Island City Partnership, Greater Jamaica Development Corp., and dozens of business groups organized under the New York Delivers coalition, which estimates passage could endanger 10,000 jobs. Amazon's April testimony warned the legislation threatens its 40 NYC Delivery Service Partners and their more than 5,000 employees, while supporters including Mayor Mamdani argue it protects workers from what they call exploitative subcontracting. The bill remains in the Council's legislative process with no announced vote date.
